Mediation
Family Mediation
Championed by Supreme Court judges, mediation is a form of dispute resolution where an independent third party attempts to resolve a dispute between two or more people, saving them the time, money and stress of a court case. It’s one of the biggest growth areas in the legal profession today and we’re proud to be leading the way in introducing our students to this family-focused activity.
What does the activity involve?
Led by professionally trained mediators this course teaches the art of successfully facilitating an effective settlement between parties. It’s designed to equip you with hugely valuable skills that will make your CV stand out to potential employers. It’s split into two parts, one in each semester:
Family Mediation 1: Children
This course introduces you to the aspects of family mediation involving children. It follows the Family Mediation Council framework for alternative dispute resolution, giving you the opportunity to learn through practical experience. You’ll learn about professional codes, principles of mediation, conflict management and drafting key documents such as memoranda of understanding and parenting plans. It’s an intensive course that relies on active participation and role play, as well as ongoing reflection of your experiences.
Family Mediation 2: Property and Finance
Once you’ve taken the first mediation course, you can move onto the second stage, focused on property and finance. Again following the Family Mediation Council guidelines, it introduces you to the current legal framework.
What skills will it give me?
This mediation activity equips students with a range of essential skills that are highly valued across various professions. First, students will develop strong conflict resolution and negotiation skills, learning how to facilitate settlements between parties in a calm and effective manner. Through hands-on practice and role play, they will enhance their active listening and empathy, essential for understanding different perspectives and guiding parties toward resolution.
The activity also strengthens communication skills, as students will practice articulating complex legal and emotional issues clearly, both orally and in writing. Drafting important documents like memoranda of understanding and parenting plans sharpens their legal drafting abilities and attention to detail.
Additionally, students will cultivate problem-solving and analytical thinking skills by engaging in real-life scenarios that require quick, thoughtful decision-making. The course also provides insight into legal frameworks surrounding family mediation, especially in relation to children, property, and finance, giving students practical knowledge of how to apply mediation principles in complex cases.